Weighting mechanism for spinning and roving frames



Oct. 23, 1945. R JONES 2,387,703

WEIGHTING MECHANISM FOR SPINNING AND ROVING FRAMES Filed Dec. 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

Oct. 23,1945. JONES 2,387,703

WEIGHTING MECHANISM FOR SPINNING AND ROVING FRAMES Filed Dec. 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a2 /7 (=20 e/ I AIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIII/I/W).

Patented Oct. 23, 1945 WEIGHTING MECHANISM FOR SPINNING AND ROVING FRAMES Robert M. Jones, Biddei'ord, Maine, assignor to Saco-Lowell Shops, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Maine Application December 19, 1941, Serial No. 423,649

11 Claims.

In a drawing mechanism for spinning and roving frames it is necessary to weight the top rolls in order to perform the drafting action with the smoothness and uniformity of operation desired. As is well known to those skilled in this art, such weighting is customarily applied by means of saddles, weight hooks, and the like, these elements resting on the necks of the top rolls. A necessary but highly undesirable result of this arrangement is to create a very considerable degree of friction which absorbs power and often interferes with the smooth and even rotation of the rolls which is important to the production of good yarn.

Since the weight on the front top roll necessarily is of considerably greater value than that applied to any of the rolls behind it, and because the front pair of rolls revolves at a much higher speed than the others, the friction created between the saddle or weight hook and the front top roll is much greater than that produced by any of the other top rolls. While, therefore, it is desirable to reduce the friction of the weighting means on all of the top rolls so far as possible, it is especially important to minimize that created at the front top roll.

To accomplish this object in a commercially practical manner constitutes the chief feature of this invention.

The nature of the invention will be readily 30 understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of parts of a drawing mechanism for a spinning or rovingframe embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one set of rolls illustrated in Fig. 1, the lower rolls being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view of anovel form of top drawing roll designed especial- 1y for use with the weighting mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation illustratin another embodiment of the invention and Fig. 5 is an end view of the weighting mechanism shown in Fig. 4.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, portions of a long draft system are there shown including three pairs of drawing rolls arranged in the usual manner to operate successively on a strand or strands of sliver. These rolls are, respectively,

4 and 5, back rolls 6 and I, and a slip roll 9. An apron It runs over the bottom roll 5 around the bar H and is tensioned by the roll l2. As usual, the lower rolls extend the entire length of the frame, are supported in roll stands l3 of a common form, and are driven by gearing located at one end of the frame, but the upper rolls merely rest on their respective lower rolls and are held in their operative positions by cap bars 8 of any common or suitable form. Except for the fact that the front top roll 2 is of novel construction, the arrangement above described is like those in common use.

As shown in Fig. 3, the top front roll 2 comprises a stationary arbor l4 on which a revolving sleeve I5 is supported by means of anti-friction bearings l5. Covering members of any suitable character, such as leather, rubber, or others, indicated at lI-l'|, are mounted fast on the sleeve l5 and form the sliver engaging portions of the roll. At the ends of the arbor It collars I8l8 are provided, each held in place by a snap ring is, which confine the cup shaped parts 2l-2l in which the bearings Iii-l6 are respectively located. The sleeve or shell I5 is held in place by snap rings 22. Preferably two collars 20-40 are pressed on to the arbor I41 in such locations that they form stops for the bearings l6--l6 or their enclosing cup shaped parts 2|- 2|.

The weighting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a T-shaped saddle, indicated in general at 24, and it consists of two somewhat L- shaped metal stampings having portions a-a positioned in alignment with each other and additional parts bb extending rearwardly from them, the latter parts being abutted laterally, one against the other, and welded together. Thus the members a-a cooperate to form a horizontal bar provided with a shank portion consisting of the partsb-b, said shank portion extending rearwardly from the bar and at right angles thereto. In addition, this saddle includes two arms c-c projecting forwardly from opposite end of the bar aa, and the lower surfaces of these arms are notched to fit over or partially around the opposite end portions of the arbor It. It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 3 that these end portions of the arbor are circumferentially grooved to receive the end portions of the arms 0-0. The rearward end of the shank b of the saddle 24 rests in the longitudinal groove formed on the upper surface of a second or supplemental saddle member 25, and the rearwardly top and bottom front rolls 2 and 3, middle rolls extending portion of the latter member is forked to straddle the neck of the rear roll 8 while its front end has a flat surface resting on the neck of the middle roll 4.

Weight is applied to the saddle through a stirrup 26, of a common form, slotted at its lower end,

. as shown in Fig. 2, for the passage of a lever 21,

one end of which is fulcrumed at 28 while a weight is suspended from its opposite end by a hook 30. This lever and weight arrangement is one commonly used and it may be replaced by any other suitable construction. The stirrup consists of a channel-shaped pressed steel bar, curved at its upper end, as best shown in Fig. 2, and pivoted at d to the shank b of the saddle 24. The upper part of the stirrup is bifurcated to receive the shank b and saddle 25, as best shown in Fig. l, and the end portions of the saddle 25 are enlarged laterally so that when the parts have once been assembled they will thereafter be held in their assembled relationship forming a saddle and stirrup unit, the second saddle, however, being loose ly held in the slot of the stirrup.

When this mechanism is in operation wei ht is transmitted through the lever 21 and stirrup 26 to the shank b of the saddle where it is distributed, the greater part of it being applied to the opposite ends of the arbor l4 of the front top roll and lesser proportions to the top middle and back rolls. It will be observed, however, that this arrangement eliminates most of the frict on of the top roll because the pressure of the saddle is transmitted through anti-friction bearings Iii-l6 to the revolving sleeve is and all the friction present, therefore, is that created in the bearings. It should also be notedthat because the bar a is positioned between the front and second top rolls 2 and 4, it does not interfere with the operation of clearer rolls, one of which is shownv in Fig. 2 at 33. Also, it is entirely out of the way of the yarn or roving, and it bridges or straddles the sleeve IS in such a manner that it does not interfere materially with the operations of removing fly or piecing up ends. In its broader aspects the invention is applicable to other top rolls, although its desirability in these locations is far less important than on the front roll. An important advantage of this construction, especially as applied to the front top roll, is that it provides a smoother runn ng roll and one operating with less drag or tendency to hesitate. It should also be observed that the arms c-c, Fig. 1, of the saddle 24 are so curved as to present a minimum of interference with the operation of cleaning or removing the slip roll 9.

In some cases the front roll is weighted independently of the back rolls and an arrangement suitable for this purpose is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Here the bar a of the saddle, indicated in generalat 24', is made separate from the shank b but the two parts are pivotally secured together by the stud 3i. Also, the shank extends downwardly from the bar and then rearwardly, terminating in a hook-shaped end e adapted for engagement with the slotted upper end of the weight link 32. The upper end of this link and the hook .lie under the front rolls and the angle of pull of range of swing of the bar relatively to the sha it being necessary mereLv to have sufficient freedom of movement between these parts to transmit the weight equally to the opposite ends of the top roll arbor. In fact, if the top roll is short it is not necessary to use the pivot 3| but instead the shank b can be riveted or welded rigidly to the bar a. This form of saddle is used chiefly on roving frames.

The invention provides a thoroughly practical weighting means for the top rolls of drawing mechanisms which is as convenient to use as are the orthodox weighting arrangements and which has the important advantage of reducing very substantially the frictional resistance that necessarily attends the use of the common forms of weighting mechanisms and thus contributes to smoother operation of the front top roll which, together with its cooperating lower roll, produces the main draft.

0n spinning frames the mounting of the horizontal bar a of the saddle 24, Figs. 1 and 2, between the first and second top roll produces the very important advantage of leaving the space in front of the rolls entirely free. A bar extending horizontally across the front of the top roll 2 would be highly objectionable to sp nning frame operators for thereason. that it would interfere seriously with the operation of piecing up a broken end. Such interference consists both in obstructing vision of the space in which this piecing up operat on must be performed, and also interfering with the manipulation of the ends by the thumb and fingers, as is necessary in joining them.

When the rolls used in a spinning frame include a slip roll, such as that shown at 9 in Figs. 1 and 2, the horizontal bar of the saddle does interfere somewhat with the operation of moving the slip roll out of its normal position. This difflculty is avoided in the construction shown by offsetting the end portions of the bars 11-11, Fig. 1, backwardly, and correspondingly oiisetting the adjoining portions of the arms c-c outwardly away from each other so as to produce the necessary space for the entrance of the fingers past the bar and into engagement with either end of the slip roll. By pressing down on one end the other will be lifted up through the space between the front roll and the saddle bar where it can be grasped by the other hand and pulled out of position endwise. This is the customary method of removing the slip roll when the ordinary weighting mechanism is employed, and this operation is performed as easily with the T-saddle as with the regular saddle.

While I have herein shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be evident that the invention is not limited to embodiment in the particular forms shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. In a drawing mechanism for spinning and roving frames, the combination with a top drawing roll and means supporting it in its operative position, of weighting mechanism for said roll comprising a T-shaped saddle including a bar straddling the fiber-engaging surfaces of said roll and having end portions bearing on the op posite end portions of the roll, said saddle including a shank portion extending from an intermediate part of said bar. and means connected with said shank portion for applying pressure to said saddle in a direction to weight the top roll.

2. In a drawing mechanism for spinning and roving frames, the combination of a top drawing roll including a stationary arbor extending the entire length of the roll, a sleeve supported on said arbor for rotation around it, two fiber engagin with said arbor to support said roll in its operative position, and a weighting mechanism for said roll comprising a T-shaped saddle including a bar straddling said sleeve and having end portions bearing on the opposite end portions of said arbor, and weighting means connected with the shank of said saddle to apply weight therethroug'h to said roll.

3. In a drawing mechanism for spinning and roving frames, the combination of a top drawing roll including an arbor and a sleeve supported on said arbor for rotation around it, means cooperating with said arbor to support said roll in its operative position, and a weighting mechanism for said roll comprising a T-shaped saddle includ ing a bar straddling said sleeve and having rearwardly bent arms bearing on the opposite end portions of said arbor and a shank extending from said bar at right angles thereto, the bearing surfaces of said arms being notched to receive said arbor and being of such length as to support said bar spaced from the peripheral surface of said sleeve and positioned in front of the roll, and weighting means connected with the shank of said saddle to weight said top roll.

4. In a drawing mechanism for spinning and roving frames, the combination of a top drawing roll including an arbor and a sleeve supported on said arbor for rotation around it, means cooperating with said arbor to support said roll in its operative position, and a weighting mechanism for said roll comprising a T-shaped saddle including a bar straddling said sleeve and having end portions bearing on the opposite end portions of said arbor, and a shank extending downwardly from the central part of said bar and curved rearwardly and terminating in a form adapted for the connection thereto of a weight transmitting memher.

5. In a drawing mechanism for spinning and roving frames, the combination with a top drawing roll and means supporting it in its operative position, of weighting mechanism for said roll comprising a T-shaped saddle including a bar straddling the fiber-engaging surfaces of said roll and having'end portions bearing on the opposite end portions of the roll, said saddle including a shank portion extending downwardly from the central part of said bar and including a rearwardly extending end portion terminating in a form adapted for the connection thereto of a weighttransmitting member.

6. A T-shaped saddle for a top roll of a drawing mechanism, comprising a bar adapted to extend approximately parallel to said roll and to straddle the fiber-engaging surface thereof, said bar having end portions shaped to bear on said roll at opposite ends of said fiber-engaging surface, and a shank extending from the central portion of said bar and adapted for the connection thereto of a weighting member.

7. A- saddle according to preceding claim 6, in which said shank extends downwardly from said bar when the saddle is in its operative position and then rearwardly, terminating in a hook located approx mately under said bar.

8. A saddle according to preceding claim 6, in which said shank is pivotally connected to the central portion of said bar, and means carried by one of said members for limiting the relative pivotal movement of said bar and said shank.

9. A saddle according to preceding claim 6, in which said shank is pivotally connected to the central portion of said bar.

10. A T-shaped saddle for a top roll of a drawing mechanism comprising a bar adapted to ex tend approximately parallel to said roll and to straddle the fiber-engaging surface thereof, said bar having end portions extending forwardly therefrom and shaped to bear on said roll at opposite ends of its fiber-engaging surface, and a shank extending rearwardly from the central portion of said bar and adapted for the connection thereto of a weighting member.

11. A T-shaped saddle for a top roll of a drawing mechanism, comprising a bar adapted to extend approximately parallel to said roll and to straddle the fiber-engaging surface thereof, said bar having end portions bent to provide arms extending forward at approximately right angles to the main body of the bar, the ends: of said arms being shaped to bear on said roll at opposite ends of said fiber-engaging surface, a shank extending from the central portion of said bar at approximately right angles thereto and shaped for connection to a weighting member, the portions of said bar adjacent to its ends being offset rearwardly and the adjoining portions of said arms being oilset outwardly away from each other with reference to the ends that engage the roll,

whereby an increased space is provided in the neighborhood of the junction of said arms with said bar.

ROBERT M. JONES. 

